How to Unlock Weapon Skins in GBVSR

Each character in GBVSR has 10 weapon skins, and they’re unlocked through a mix of gameplay, leveling, and currency.

• Weapon Skins 2–4 and 5–6: Buy them in the Rupie Shop for 600 Rupies each.
• Weapon Skin 7: Also available in the Rupie Shop, but priced at 1200 Rupies.
• Weapon Skins 8–10: Cost 3500 Rupies each and require a more profound play commitment.
• Bonus Unlocks: Some skins carry over if you had them in the original GBVS and purchased battle passes for those characters.

Additionally, playing RPG Mode and completing missions or leveling up characters through Arcade or Survival mode also unlocks skins, rewarding players who engage with multiple modes.

How to Unlock Character Colors

Cosmetic colors are tied to levels, game modes, and special events.

• Colors 1–4: Unlocked by default.
• Colors 9–15: Earned by leveling up your character online.
• Colors 16–18: Can be won via the Crane Game in Online Lobbies (for base roster only).
• DLC Character Colors 16–18: Only purchasable in the Rupie Shop.
• Color 19: Rewarded through previous GBVS battle passes.
• Color EX: Rare tournament participation reward — one per selected character.

Secret Unlock Paths, Community Tips & Speed-Up Strategies

While the basic weapon and color unlocks are well-documented, Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising hides many secret methods, time-savers, and player-discovered exploits that can speed up your customization grind. This section dives into community-sourced wisdom from Reddit, Steam guides, and veteran players who’ve cracked the code on unlocking faster — or smarter.

Secret Methods Most Players Miss

Many players think RPG mode is the only way to earn cosmetics, but there are alternative paths if you know where to look:

• Arcade and Survival Mode Progression: You mustn’t touch RPG Mode—just level characters through Arcade or Survival runs. Completing them on higher difficulties yields more EXP and unlocks skins faster.
• Skipping Weapon Skin Crafting: While RPG mode allows crafting, it’s often a slow and grindy route. If you have enough Rupies, just buy the skins in the Rupie Shop and skip crafting entirely.
• Carryover Content from GBVS: If you owned the original game and purchased character passes, many weapon skins, and color unlocks carry over. This can save you hours of grinding for Skins 8–10 and Color 19.

Quick Tip: Leveling a character through 10–15 online matches often unlocks weapon and color rewards more efficiently than grinding CPU battles.

Community Tips: What Reddit and Steam Users Recommend

From Reddit:

Don’t forget to check the Crane Game in the Online Lobby. It looks like fluff, but you can win Colors 16–18 for base characters with some luck. Think of it like a gacha minigame.

From Steam Guides:

To speed up leveling, pick a character and play a few ranked or casual matches in a row. Wins give more EXP, but even losses help. You can unlock most color sets by committing to one main for a few sessions.

From GameFAQs:

Some weapon skins are unlocked by hitting specific milestones in RPG Mode, like clearing boss missions with S-rank. These aren’t always listed clearly, so replaying completed missions can sometimes trigger surprise rewards.

Post-Launch Updates & Evolving Rewards

Since launch, Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising has continued to evolve, including how skins, colors, and cosmetic content are distributed. Capcom has gradually refined the game’s unlock system with patch updates, better event rewards, and clearer milestone tracking. Players now benefit from faster EXP gain, making it easier to level up characters in both casual and ranked play and significantly reducing the grind for color unlocks.

One of the more exciting updates came with improved visibility into special rewards and tournament-exclusive cosmetics. For example, Color EX, once a mystery, is now known to be tied to participation in official online and community tournaments, often as a one-time unlock per character. Capcom has also teased more cross-game rewards for GBVS veterans, potentially tying future color schemes or weapon skins to cumulative achievements across the series.

Even the Rupie economy has been balanced more fairly. Quests and daily missions now reward more currency, allowing newer players to reach 3500 Rupies for high-tier weapon skins without endless farming. Community-requested changes have made the process less punishing and more like a rewarding long-term journey, rather than a grind-heavy checklist. 

Plus, for those who missed content from the original GBVS, Capcom has made it easier to purchase or re-earn legacy skins and color unlocks, which were previously tied to now-expired battle passes.

Is the Grind Worth It in 2025?

For most players — yes, but with a few caveats. Unlocking weapon skins and color variants in GBVSR now feels less about pure time investment and more about engaging with various modes. If you play multiple characters or enjoy hopping between Arcade, Ranked, and RPG mode, you’ll naturally unlock cosmetics just by playing. That said, those looking to max out their favorite character quickly still benefit from targeted grinding, especially using methods like the Crane Game, Rupie Shop, or replaying high-difficulty RPG missions.

The more cosmetic-focused you are, the more value you’ll find in these rewards. Each skin or color isn’t just a visual bonus — it’s a sign of progress. Rocking Skin #10 or Color EX in a match tells your opponent (and yourself) that you’ve done the work. It adds flair, identity, and style — and in fighting games, that matters as much as footsies.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, GBVSR’s customization system strikes a better balance between grind and gratification. While there are still time-based unlocks and rare cosmetics, most players can unlock their favorite gear through natural gameplay and clever shortcuts. Whether you’re a completionist or just want a few great looks for your main, the system has matured into something worth your time.

Have a rare skin or color you’re proud of? Share your loadout — or your best unlock tips — in the comments!